Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and a role for autoimmunity

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. It is typically associated with extensive and progressive fibrosis, and is fatal and has limited treatment options. Characteristically IPF patients display large lymphocyte aggregates composed of CD3 + T cells and CD20 + B cells within the lung tissue that are located near sites of active fibrosis. In addition, IPF patients can have autoantibodies...